Pillar of Achievement

Class of 2023
Kenny Holdsman has devoted the past twenty-five years of his career to the creation of empowering opportunities for young people, especially those from lower-income communities of color. Through a combination of education, leadership and workforce development, coaching and mentorship, family involvement, and high quality opportunities both in schools and in communities. He has held senior positions in the School District of Philadelphia; the Academy for Educational Development, a global non-profit; and two local sports-based youth development organizations.

Class of 2022
Milton S. Schneider (“Tony”) founded Philadelphia City Rowing in 2009 based on his passion for rowing and a vision that public high school children in Philadelphia should have the opportunity to experience the sport of rowing. PCR is a high-impact youth development organization that uses the sport of rowing to empower Philadelphia public school students to reach their greatest potential on the water, in the classroom, and in life. Tony co-founded PCR in 2009 and has served as Board Chair ever since, providing strategic guidance and support to help grow and expand their programs in order to best meet the evolving needs of young Philadelphians.

Class of 2020
William Yale Saltzman, considered one of the greatest football players in Philadelphia High School history in 1928, was inducted into their first Sports Hall of Fame class 63 years later. In his junior year at Franklin & Marshall College, he was the first Jewish captain of the football team with wrestling, boxing and baseball rounding out his sports interests. He was inducted into F&M’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

Class of 2019
From his position as the managing partner of his law firm to his many leadership roles, Stephen Frishberg has been a tireless leader both professionally and charitably. Twenty-one years after its founding, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was forced to leave its previous home and was at a dire crossroad. But Frishberg, its Chairman for twelve years, remained undeterred and retained a clear vision for the future shepherding the organization into a bright new era. His generosity and commitment, coupled with a dogged determination and his singular ability to think outside of the box has earned him the honor of the Pillar of Achievement Award.

Class of 2003
Sam was the Chairman of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Philadelphia from 1994-1997. His enthusiastic support helped establish the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Fall of Fame.

Class of 2004/2005
Bill (right) and Harvey (left) believed that the rich Jewish sports tradition in Philadelphia deserved recognition. They took this idea and co-founded the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Class of 2006
Simcha is a long time President and the driving force in maintaining the Jewish Basketball League Alumni Association. The JBLA is an unusual sports organization that began and has operated continuously since 1938.

Class of 2007
After the Philadelphia Warriors were sold and moved to San Francisco in 1962, Ike and Irv became partners to return professional basketball to Philadelphia. They purchased the NBA franchise Syracuse Nationals in 1963 and renamed it the Philadelphia 76ers. Richman (left) and Kosloff (right) pictured with Dolph Schayes (PJSHOF inductee) (center).

Class of 2011
Steve headed the development of, and continues to remain actively involved in a Police Athletic League community center named after his father, Samuel D. Cozen. The center provides a broad range of free sports, education, recreation and social services to inner-city children and their families. Steve serves on the Board of Steven Spielberg’s USC Shoah Foundation Institute, the creator of the largest archive of Holocaust testimonies in the world.

Class of 2012
Lewis has provided leadership and funding for a broad range of philanthropic activities, with particular focus on children, education and health care. He was a principal owner of the NJ Nets and NJ Devils. A native of Camden, New Jersey, he helped build two Boys & Girls Clubs there that serve nearly 3,000 young people each year, as well as Jewish Community Centers in Cherry Hill and Margate, New Jersey with another under construction in Princeton, all named for his parents.